Morning Brief: Thursday, July 2, 2015

Today’s Morning Brief is brought to you by the International Economic Forum of the Americas. The 9th Toronto Global Forum: Pan American Edition presented by Cogeco Data Services will be taking place on July 8-10, 2015 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel. Over 2000 participants and 100 speakers are expected. The IEFA has been connecting you with world leaders for over 20 years.

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Canadians blessed to live in best country, Harper says — Politicians give a nod to looming election on Canada Day — How Canada is perceived around the world — Tom Mulcair’s Tory talks: Why the story’s back again, and who benefits — Gilles Duceppe officially named leader of Bloc Québécois — New appointees to Order of Canada — Buffleheads and Vitamina D: Six private members’ bills you probably missed — From typewriters to Twitter: Marjory LeBreton on 50 years in politics — Conservative Party rejects Ches Crosbie’s candidacy for Avalon — Scores Killed in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula as Militants, Army Clash —US, Cuba take major step in restoring diplomatic ties — U.S. economy adding jobs — GOP fears Trump hurting brand — And finally, O Canada indeed.

There was much lauding and listing of reasons to be proud of Canada, but what about outside our own borders? A birthday isn’t a bad time to take stock, so with the help of the International Council for Canadian Studies, CBC News reached out to the 7,000 or so academics around the world who teach courses about Canada to find out how people see Canada and Canadians.

There hasn’t been much in the way of a dull moment on the Hill in recent weeks and given all that’s gone on, you could be forgiven for missing a thing here and there, including these off the wall private members’ bills. From buffleheads to vitamin D, Deane McRobie takes a look at the oddest of the bunch.

In Newfoundland, prominent St. John’s lawyer Ches Crosbie will not be running for the Conservatives in the next federal election in the riding of Avalon. Party officials have told him he’s not the type of candidate the party is looking for. Although disappointed by the decision, Crosbie said he respected it and wouldn’t appeal it. His father, former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister John Crosbie, wasn’t quite as reserved and said the decision is not only bad for his son, but also for the party. “The audacity of some small, unknown committee of people up in Ottawa that could have this power… is not only insulting, it’s a disgrace… I can’t explain my scorn and disdain. I am really browned off,” he said. “If it wasn’t for my age — I’m 84 — I’d bloody-well put my hat in the ring in the next couple of weeks. I’d run myself… I’m tempted to do that.”

Here and there:

Infrastructure funding announcement with Brian Gallant in Shediac, New Brunswick.

NDP MP Peter Stoffer holding press conference in Halifax on the reduction and possible elimination of fire protection services at the Department of National Defence Ammunition Depot in Dartmouth.

Red Cross officials and Lac-Megantic Mayor Colette Roy Laroche discuss the tragedy that struck the Quebec town two years ago.

Council of Canadians challenge the Fair Elections Act.

Official opening of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games

Information and Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Denham will release an investigation report that examines whether the B.C. government had a duty to warn and inform citizens about a tailings pond breach at the Mount Polley mine.

The U.S. is heading into a holiday weekend and so the country’s jobs report is out a day early. Analysts expect that the Labor Department’s monthly figures will show a 0.1% drop in the unemployment rate in June to 5.4%, and the addition of 230,000 jobs.

Still in the U.S., the GOP thinks presidential candidate Donald Trump is hurting their brand. But yet they can’t dump him. As The Hill reports, “right now the billionaire businessman would earn a top spot on the debate stage given his poll numbers.” That’s got party veterans just a wee bit worried.